In a stark warning to premiership rivals, Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy has described his team's relative lack of State of Origin representatives as a "blessing" for the Storm's NRL title hopes.
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The ladder leaders welcome back Harry Grant for Saturday night's first-versus-third clash against the Sydney Roosters at AAMI Park.
The Queensland hooker was the Storm's only representative in Wednesday's Origin decider, with Maroons regulars Cameron Munster and Xavier Coates sidelined by injuries.
The Roosters had four players feature - Angus Crichton, Connor Watson, Spencer Leniu and Lindsay Collins - with all set to back up against Melbourne.
Bellamy believes the first month after the annual Origin series can be particularly tricky for players to navigate from a mental perspective, which has a flow-on effect to their club sides.
"I'm not quite sure right at the back end of the season but the next four or six weeks it does," Bellamy said on Friday.
"If you've got a lot of guys in Origin, I find it takes them a little while to recover - not so much physically but mentally.
"Origin's a big thing and other than probably the grand final it's the biggest thing in our game.
"There's a massive build-up to that mentally and then (you have) a let-down.
"Whether you win or lose, I don't think that really matters but, for me, it's more how they recover mentally from the series."
Grant fought through a sternum injury in Origin III and was on light duties at Storm training on Friday, but is set to play his first club game since round 15.
Munster (groin) is on track to return next week, while Coates (hamstring) is expected back in action before the finals.
"With the injuries we've got at the moment it probably has been a bit of a blessing that we haven't had too many in Origin," Bellamy said.
"But we don't want to stop players playing Origin or silently hope they don't get picked in Origin.
"We want them to play Origin because the players want to play Origin.
"This year we haven't been affected a whole heap, so it sort of helps in that way, but they come back better players for that experience as well.
"So you do get some benefits at the end of the season as well, besides the mental fatigue that they go through."
Bellamy confirmed fullback Nick Meaney (calf) would return from injury against the Roosters, and dismissed "rumblings" about Nelson Asofa-Solomona's future.
The veteran enforcer raised eyebrows last week with a cryptic social media post, featuring the caption "all good things must come to an end, enjoy the moments while they last."
"He's got a contract here for the next three years so at the end of the day I don't know what else to say other than that," Bellamy said.
"He's here and he's playing good footy at the moment and, as I said, he's got a three-year contract."
NSW flyer Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is back for the Roosters after serving a ban for a high hit on Origin rival Reece Walsh as Trent Robinson's side chases a fifth consecutive win.
But veteran prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is out for the next month due to suspension.
The Roosters have been in hot form, particularly in attack, but have lost nine of their past 10 meetings with Melbourne.
"It's a big game," Bellamy said. "They've been affected by Origin but it's still a big game."
Australian Associated Press
